To be glad that the VAT on school fees

[Shaketherombooga]

Is now going to be happening in January? what’s the point in stalling it? I think it’s one of many decisions that we just need to get in with.

YABU - it’s SO unfair. Labour hates ‘strivers’ etc etc

YANBU - Yup, Labour said they are taking away tax breaks for private schools, so let’s get on with it.

It isn’t a tax break, they haven’t been avoiding tax. Nobody pays vat on education. Do people honestly think that private schools don’t already pay tax already? This is a new tax. It’s not closing a loophole - there was no loophole in the first place.
I really don’t like the glee that accompanies some posts. Poor little Jocasta etc. Children , rich or poor, usually don’t decide where they go to school.

Nobody seems to be acknowledging that parents who pay for private education save the state an absolute fortune. And now more is wanted from them. Absolutely tax the rich. But tax all of them the same - not just those who use private schools.

And please have a little bit of compassion for those teachers in the private sector who WILL lose their jobs. Collateral damage I suppose.

This topic is one of the few where it’s ok to mock and sneer at kids. Who largely have no choice as to where their parents send them to school up to age 16.

Yes. Also, ALL private school children are entitled little shits. “My boss’s children went to private school. When they came into their dad’s office they insisted we bowed to them and called them your majesty.”

So much airtime given to 7% of parents whingeing. It's that 93% of kids that is most important. The VAT thing will come in at some point, I think parents affected by it should look at how to budget properly.

@Superworm24

"And now we've got a baby boy. I won't apologise for wanting better for him and being worried about how his education will impact his life. I don't want him to struggle like we have. "

But by wanting "better" for you son means that someone else's son will have something not as good.
Whether this is his education, what food he eats, the time you spend with him, the house he lives in or the mattress he sleeps on.

What is worrying is that wanting better for your son is now seen by many posters here as creating unfairness or inequality and that everyone should be on the same level even if that level is lower.

Who started this thread?

Lots of us whinging are actually not private school parents and never will be. We can just see an ill thought out policy when we see one. And yes I voted Labour in previous elections and yes I voted to remain. We don’t all fit the stereotype people think we do. I have also taught in the state sector for over twenty years and will continue to do so for as long as I’m able. I grew up in a very working class family and was the first and only one to go to university except for my eldest dc.

This, with bells on. Nailed it.

It’s the weird British class system that is perpetuating all this - let’s face it THATs what these private parents are ‘striving’ to do - to gain the social capital that often goes with these schools
Its refreshing to now have a cabinet and a government full of people who went to state school - and somehow still succeeded in life - because now we have a government much more representative of the people in this country.

The thing is, we all have acquaintances, colleagues and even friends where we don’t know what kind of school they went to. And we get on with them and like them, whether they went to state or private.

Which is why it’s odd when people stereotype about education and the kind of person that comes out of the school. It’s not that simple. There are dicks and decent people from all sorts of educational backgrounds. And people often focus on extreme examples of both which isn’t helpful.

Will love it in a few years when the figures come out and it's revealed that the kings ransom this was touted to achieve into the coffers never materialised, quite telling that the actual study into it stated that they're basing their predicted figures off the assumption that if the education isn't continued with, they'll still get the money back from the parents spending on other VAT rated things instead, like yes; someone's going to jack in the kids private schooling because they can no longer afford it; then spend the money on a new designer handbag or fancy watch every term instead.

Very true, it will never be a "level playing field." Even if we just look at schooling, not all state schools are equal. As a smug PP has stated her DCs local secondary has amazing facilities. Our local secondary school has nothing of the sort. We won't settle for it and want to invest in our child, not to take away from anyone else's.

Yeah and completely misses the point that the rich parents do both anyway

Really didn't nail it. I work my arse off and get paid 30k. I have strong qualifications and worked my butt off at uni and school. I don't expect anything handed to me and don't blame anyone for me not earning 100k a year. There are millions like me. Do I think private education should be taxed? Absolutely. Do I wish all children had great opportunities? Absolutely.

@clarkkentsglasses

"With attitudes like this thread no wonder people don't do well for themselves. Tax the rich and give me the money because I deserve it as I don't want to work any harder and it's not my fault.

It's not my fault my parents aren't rich, it's not my fault I'm not privileged. It's not my fault I don't earn enough money.

So you're not allowed to either.

Nasty people all earning more money than me and putting it back to economy."

Also bashing the "rich" not to raise tax revenues but to punish them is incredibly foolhardy in an economy where the top 0.3% of income tax payers (approximately 100k people) pay 25% of all income tax revenue.

www.somersetwm.co.uk/tax-system-explained-with-beer/

In your opinion except that's not why I sent my DC to private school. Also, like many private school parents have one in DC state and one in private.

@Yupthatsit

Do I wish all children had great opportunities? Absolutely.

Do I think taxing private education will enable all children to have great opportunities? Not a chance.

So what is the point of it, other than to create equality for all it but at the lower level.

But how will THIS policy achieve that? I've asked on numerous threads for someone to show me how THIS specific policy will raise enough money to do anything whatsoever to improve the state system. So far no-one has. Mine are the type kids who are in private due to SEN that state failed to provide help for. One was bullied horribly and is still suffering two years on. I'm in debt to keep them in their small, shabby, friendly, pastorally brilliant school and will continue to do so because it would break them to leave. I loathe the gleeful sniping at children that these threads produce and statements about "only a tiny minority". When your child is that minority, it is a massive problem and really upsetting that there are adults out there who are rubbing their hands with glee that their lives can be upturned as a hilarious "gotcha". I will somehow keep them there but my heart breaks for some of their friends who I know will have to leave. So again....please give me concrete figures of how this will transform state and not, as a pp said, simply entrench the house price/ postcode privilege instead.

I object to tax on education on principle. I agree with pp that it will just push up house prices around good state schools further. I feel sorry for the children who are in private education because they had a bad time in the state system and whose parents won't be able to afford it now.

I don't think one type of school (state comp) fits all. I think there's a place for private, grammar, small, big, sports focused, language focused, ballet schools, boarding....

I don't use private school but don't begrudge those who do.

You sound quite strange OP.

Are you the one who starts a thread about this every few days? What a weird fixation to have.

What di you mean “Get on with it, come on.” 😂 What miracle changes are you expecting to see from this VAT which will be a drop in the ocean anyway. Really strange. What will happen for you is er… nothing.

Fyi, I voted Labour and our kids all went through London day schools and one is still there. I thought the VAT was starting in Sept, so I don’t know why you’ve think your news about Jan is a great shock. To be honest, if they aren’t ready to go with it now, it will probably be Easter or next year because these things always take longer.

Get ready for more tax in general OP. “Get on with it, come on.” Hurry hurry hurry.

I find it all a little hypocritical....

Starmer passed the 11-plus examination and gained entry to Reigate Grammar School, then a voluntary aided selective grammar school.

The school was converted into an independent fee-paying school in 1976, while he was a student. The terms of the conversion were such that his parents were not required to pay for his schooling (Labour government at the time and I believe the Council paid the fees) until he turned 16, and when he reached that point, the school, now a charity, awarded him a bursary that allowed him to complete his education there without any parental contribution.

It's hardly caring about others. They are not paying VAT through choice!

It's because we absolutely love posh boys to be in charge of this country, while simultaneously hating and resenting the system that got them there.

Are you having a go at me because I am a private school parent and, as I have said, I have said the taxpayer tens of thousand of pounds so far by educating my DC privately at primary level.